EUPRIO President Christine Legrand has thanked the many members who have sent her and other French EUPRIO representatives messages of sympathy and support after the gun attacks and suicide bombings in Paris on Friday night (13 November).

“These terrible events not only concern France but also Europe, the world and universities everywhere. Liberté Égalité Fraternité! And solidarity! I’m so sad today,” said Christine.

“What happened in Paris on Friday followed the worst terror attack in Beirut for years the day before, where we are also represented.

“So it is important to stress that it is not only a French tragedy, but a European and international story and higher education is of course horrified at this latest turn of events.”

European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker, speaking ahead of the G20 summit in Turkey to discuss the effects of the refugee crisis on European security, said: “We should not mix the different categories of people coming to Europe. The one responsible for the attacks in Paris … he is a criminal and not a refugee and not an asylum seeker.”

French President François Hollande has declared three days of mourning for the dead and badly injured from Friday’s attacks.